Birthdays are always nostalgic, but let’s be honest, it takes very little to tip me into nostalgia.

If I had to pick a theme, I’d say year 27 was about unfinished business; I finished what I had started (#lawyered) and it was all very, verybusiness.

Undoubtedly, the biggest accomplishment of year 27 was being finally admitted to the legal profession. A journey that started well over the 1418 days ago when I arrived to Australia to start law school.

I have set a different intention for Year 28; Year 28 is about beginnings, balance and beauty.

The beginning of new goals, new relationships, new adventures.

Finding balance between creating the life I want and enjoying the life I have created.

There is always someone willing to do what you refuse to, or hesitate to do. Waiting. Anticipating.

A friend once told me, “life is adversity.”

Buddhism has taught me, life is suffering.

Prima facie, these notions appear pessimistic, though they are not. If we concede that life is suffering and full of struggles, we enable a happier life. Less disappointment. Less discouragement.

I try to exude positivity and joy, but it would be fallacious to say that I embody positivity and joy all the time.

Nor would I want to.

Dark times have the potential to turn friends into enemies and family into strangers. Dark times also have potential to be cultivated into something powerful.

I’m learning. Fumbling my way through this process of cultivating my (better) self. Writing, training, conversing with others and reflecting on all of the above have been the foundations for my development in this area.

I recently re-started writing (again). For the record, I never intended to stop, but it happens. Cyclically, actually.

The cycle is as follows:

Usually, it starts when I’m feeling a little over and/or underwhelmed. Then, as I write and release all of those pesky feelings, I create room for better things and that’s exactly what happens: Life gets better, and I write less and experience more. I get caught up in the experiences and the writing stops. Then too much life happens and/or life spirals and I feel like I’ve lost my bearings (again), so I return to writing (again).

What, rather how, I write also follows a pattern:

When I have experiences, stories and sadness that I need to share (read: catharsis), I write (usually in the third person).Some feelings, experiences and stories reflect my own; others are figments of my imagination, but they’re all pieces of vulnerability. Every (published) post is an opportunity, or platform for criticism or judgement. While the alternative could be argued; that being, that each post is also an opportunity or platform to receive praise and attention, writing has always been intrinsically motivated for me and most times, quite personal.

When I have something particular I want to share and write about, I write (exclusively in the first person). These are usually reflective or rant pieces. (For example, this post).

So, what has sparked the return to writing this time? Work. (work, work, work, work, work…)

My job has been mentally and some days physically taxing. I was starting to feel like all I did was train, go to work, eat, sleep and repeat for 6 days of the week… but with little to show for it. Very robotic. Very draining and very, dare I say, borderline depressing.

I also live alone and away from my family, so coming home to an empty flat day-in and day-out can get lonely sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I love, love, love living on my own and I don’t quite think I’m ready to be ‘domesticated,’ but no (wo)man is an island.. and robots need love too.. among other things.

It’s safe to say, I needed a distraction, or an outlet and let’s be honest– Tinder does not satisfaction bring. Frustration, disappointment, bewilderment, yes. Satisfaction, no. But I digress…

Ironically, it was a Tinder date that inspired the return to writing, so I guess it’s not all bad. Nonetheless, within days I was writing again (although it was only recently that I started posting) and here I am on several days later reflecting/ranting about it.

ATTENTION: If diet and nutrition are on the top of your resolution list, here’s a list of a few people I’d recommend getting in touch with (because I have either trained with them or have been trained by them and can vouch for their skill, professionalism and effectiveness). Please share for those who may be interested.

Also noteworthy is Brie Quilter: Whole Soul Living, who I’ve had the pleasure of training beside and who has since established her own whole foods, health and wellness business providing prepared meals/meal plans and holistic living.

If you’ve been following ‘what’s trending,’ or even glanced at your Facebook Newsfeed today, you’ll know that tonight was special; a Supermoon Lunar Eclipse. This phenomenon is both, astronomically and astrologically significant. According to Elephant Journal, there are four key things to note about tonight’s Supermoon Lunar Eclipse:

It will be a total lunar eclipse which means that the Earth, sun and moon will all align precisely– which only happens a few times a year;

It will be a supermoon which means when we look up at the night sky the brilliant glow will be breathtaking;

This full moon takes place very close to the equinox (mark of a new season) which amplifies its energy considerably.

This particular lunar eclipse will be the fourth of four total lunar eclipses in a row, or the grand finale.

While I do believe in a Higher Power, my faith has definitely taken a hit this year. The reasons as to why and how are unimportant, but I found myself turning more than a curious eye to astrology and in particular, these lunar eclipses.

“Many of us have been thrown into relationship karma since July with the Venus retrograde cycle and some of us even longer. Now that the cycle is nearing completion, we’re closer to understanding our own needs as well as what we need in our relationship.”

The part that interests me is the idea of this cycle nearing completion; I feel like I’ve been going through a bloody spin cycle since February. I want to believe that this is the end of all of that, that good things are just around the corner, so with whatever faith I have left, I put it to you (and the Universe)

Tonight is the end of the cycle. May the weight of our trials and emotional burdens be lifted from our mind, heart, soul and spirit. May this eclipse bring the closure we seek and the closure we need to wake up with renewed faith, restored energy and a lightness in our heart. So it is written, so shall it be done.

As I read that back, I can’t help but role my eyes a little bit; but you know what, sometimes we just have to go out on a limb, believe in something a little bigger and put our intentions out into the Universe. So there it is.